Perforating-machine.



J. POWERS.

PERFORMING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED MAY 24.1913.

Patented May 4, 1915.

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PERFORATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. m3.

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JAMES POWERS, OF NEW YORK, N (Y., AssIeNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 PowERs ACGOUNTING.MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

PERFORATING-MAGHINE.

Patented Ma 1, 1915.

Application filed May 24, 1913. Serial NO. 769,558.

To auto/10m it may concern 'Be it known that I, JAMEsPowER's, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perforat-' ing-Machines, of which the following is a specification. I y

My present invention is a simplification of and an improvement upon card-perforating machines such as described in my prior United States Patents 992245 and 992246, and enables me to make machines for such general purposes which are simpler, cheaper, more compact, durable and reliable; to greatly improve the action; and to very greatly reduce the. number of keys which the operator must remember the location of, locate, strike, and to arrange and space them accessibly and conveniently for finger-open ation. In said patents I illustrate a keyboard with twenty-four rows of twelve keys each, or two hundred and eighty-eight keys amongst which the operator must locate and strike the keys necessary to form a card perforation record. In the present machine I have but. thirteen striking keys of which only ten need be struck to record a series of facts, the other keys comprising a skip-key and classification keys. Theseimprovements reduce the strain on the operator and his labor and the percentage of errors and lost work, and thereby quicken and greatly increase the output and make it more reliable.

My improvements may be generally described as consisting in dividing the action into two parts, namely, punch actions and key actions; in reducing the number of key actions to the number of punch actions in one punch series, plus a skip-key, all-conveniently combined in 'one key'mechanism;

in adapting this key mechanism to select and cause theoperation of any punch in any of the series of punches by mounting it on a suitable automatically-fed carriage; and in improvements in the arrangement and transmission rendered practicable by the novel actions. r

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleation with certain parts broken out; Fig.

2 is a transverse sectionof the machine; Fig. 3 IS a plan; Fig. 4 an enlarged detail of the punch-action switch, mounted; Fig. 5 a like ports. and positions the I view of the switch, dismounted; Fig. 6 is a view of a switclrspring; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail 'Of the key-carriage feed mechanism, showing the shaft-head.

To facilitate comparison of this with the patents referred to, reference characters hereof refer to partslike, or having functions like, the members designated by the same characters in said patents.

I provide a frame comprising a base 1 and a basket 2, which Supports the upper machine members. At opposite sides of the base I mount a card-supply hopper 9'0 and a record-card bin 130 and between them a card-feed, generally designated by 97, which comprises suitable rolls, operably connected with the main shaft; and beneath the supply hopper I locate a card picker 91, also operably connected with the main shaft by a cam-and-link gearing 93, and adapted to pick cards one at a time from the hopper 90 and advance them to the card-feed 97 from which they are fed between the die-plate 24; and the guide-plate 23 for perforation, and subsequently to the bin 130;

On the base 1, I revolubly mount a trans-- mission comprising a main shaft 15 controllably connected with a source of power and armed with suitable cams and driving members, and operably connected by cams, links and'otherwise with the power driven ma-- chine members; none'of which constitutes part of my present invention and therefore need not be described. On the base I mount a vertically-reciprocating die box 21 operably connected with the main shaft 15 and guided on the'base. as shown in said patents. On the die-box 21 I mount, separated by a card-way, a die plate 24 and a guide plate 23, and in said plates respectively, I make a plurality of series of registering die holds and guide holes for the punches 50. Above the upper limit of the guide-plate motion, I mount on the basket 2 a punch-support plate 5 likewise perforated, which normally, supunches 50, whose heads 50 rest on said plate save when they are lifted, as hereafter described. The punch heads, 50 are rectangular to prevent the punches from turning, and he ends are fastened and by whose ends the grill :and said separators are fastened (screwed) to the'basket 2, the separators being thus adapted to be readily bench-as sembled and positioned and set as a unit, in the machine. The punch shanksare flatted to form retraction shoulders 50*; and retraction bars 23 located adjacent to the series of punches and secured to the guide plate 23 by angle'bars 23 are adapted to retract elevated punches, when the punch box 21 descends, by the engagement of the bars 23 with the shoulders. 50 of the raised punches, which are always in position to engage said bars because the punches are prevented from turning, as aforesaid.

()n, thev basket I .mount a pair. of action plates 8, perforated with a plurality of series of action-rod holes 8 for divergent punch-action. rods .50 corresponding with the punches 50, said holes being necessarily formed at varying angles, for the several rods and therefore ovals with uniform minor and varying major axes, and spaced wider in the upper than in the lower plate.

The essence of my invention consists in the key-action S and punch-action P. To

support the former, I provide two lateral rail-rods, 2 fixed in and uniting the cheeks of the basket 2; and on said rods I mount a wheeled carriage, S formed of cheeks, S parallel with and at the sides of the machine, and united by a pair of deck plates S and S the upper of which, S", has a longitudinal, outward extension constituting the lower key-plate to which the upper keyplate S is fixed by posts, S. Thecarriage- S is mounted on the rails 2 by wheels, 8. Each key-action, S, comprises a stem, S, which slides in registering holes in the keyplate S and deck plate S, has a head (on which its character may be marked) and a neck S between said plates; a key-lever, S, which is pivoted on a stud, S fixed in the deck plate, and whose slotted free end engages said neck S of the key-stem; a tialrelease and engagement pawl E of the pin S formed with an upper head and a reduced, lower pin, andmounted in registering holes in the deck plates S S anda spring S strained between the lower plate S and the pin head holds it up into permanent engagement with the key lever S and thereby holds up the key lever and stem.

The key-pins S are arranged in a transverse line and severally corresponding with punch rods of the several punch series; and for convenient operation the key stems S and their heads are located off the machine axis, bunched in three rows of four, keys each and finger spaced, about like typewriter keys. Because of these arrangements, the key levers, are bent or ofiset in plan and (being thin bars) their free ends are twisted a quarter turn and. slotted, to engage the necks S of the stems 8.,

50'}? a spring confined in a'drum, S which is connected with the carriage by a cord or chains. When a record key is struck it causes the carriage to be released so that the carriage will be pulled forward by the spring drum S and cordS; and its advance is limited by an escapement E adapted to be operated by each record key action and also by a skipkey action, to be described.

The escapement E comprises a longitudinal rack E fixed on the basket 2; a transverse rock shaft E revolubly mounted in the carriage cheeks S a ratchet wheel E and fixed thereto a pinion E in permanent engagement with said rack, said wheel and pinion being revolubly mounted adjacent to said rock-shaft; a compound pawl E connected with said shaft and adapted to engage release and rengage the ratchet wheel and a. spring E connected with the initial pawl E of said compound pawl.

. The rock-shaft E v is located above the upper deck plate S", its bearings are in lugs of the carriage cheeks S and its near journal is. formed on a shaft head 13, which is formed .with an inner head E counterbore E and transverse slot E and an outer die 13]? and tapped hole E The shaft is centered in and angularly fixed with the shaft head by entering its end into the counterbore E and by a pin E, which extends through the shaft and lies in theslot E it is axially fixed by a collar fixed to it, interior to its inner bearing, and is' provided with a rocker arm E which extends under and in contact with the twelve key levers S so that the depression of any of said levers will rock the shaft. Adjacent to the shaft head the shaft E serves as fulcrum for the skip-key lever 8", which is positioned thereon by collars.

The shank of the shaft head extends through its bearing far enough to afford an outer bearing for the pivotally mounted inishank of the skip-key lever S and serves as one abutment for the spring E which is strained between it and the carriage cheek; andadjacent to the shaft head I form a concentric slot, E. In the pawl E which is fixed .to the rock-shaft, I fix a pin, E adapted to engage said slot E Whena key S is depressed its lever S depresses the rocker arm E and rocks the shaftE? .andthe final pawl B, so that its ratchet wheel E keys are depressed. The initial pawl is hook will enter the path'of the teeth of the and prevent its rotation, but Without, as yet, moving the initial pawl B, because at such times the pin E of the pawl E moves freely in the slot E of the initial pawl, but as such motion of the reek shaft and final pawl are continued and com-' pleted, said pin E engages the end wall of thejslot E lifts the initial pawl E and disengages it from the ratchet wheel, which is therefore very slightly rotated and arrested and retained by the hook of the pawl and so retained as long as'any of said loosely mounted on the shaft head, its play being sufiieient so-that when it is disengaged "as aforesaid fromthe ratchet wheel, the

spring E pulls it out radially so far that its tip is angularly extended beyond the toothface from which it was just disengaged so.

that if it were immediately returned toward engaging position its tip would ride on the back of said tooth, which prevents undesired carriage motions. 1

WVhen the finger is lifted from the depressed key its spring s lifts itvand its lever S and permits the rockshaft E to be rocked by a spring E, which motion lifts does not extend under said lever) and raises .,disengaged and its inner arm and the pin E and initial pawl E disengages the latter from the to advance the carriage one tooth only, because the initial pawl fiies back and stops the carriage the instant said key is released; but holding down said key holds said pawl (because the final pawl E is upheld by the key springs S permits the carriage to be advanced until said key is released or until it is stopped by contact with a manually setable stop 8*, to be dei scribed.

I provide a manually mechanism S to facilitate skipping cardlines which are not to be perforated. In the basket 2 I pivot, by its cylindrical ends, a lateral, rocking, rack bar 8, on which I form a rack'S and I fixto said rack bar a parallel rod S by links S pinned to both. To the back of the rack bar I fix a rocker arm S and on-the parallel rod I pivot a number of stops S each having a convenient handle,

and a pair of teeth S -to its motion.

the latter being fixed setable skip-stop adapted to" engage the rack S and tapered 'on their engaging side so as .to readily en 7 gage the rack teeth. In each stop S I provide a round-pointed setting pin. S held up by a spring S and adapted to engage grooves S in the parallel rod 8.

As illustrated, the ratchet wheel E? and pinion E have an' equal number of teeth, and therefore when the pinion E rolls one tooth along the feed rack E the ratchet Wheel E rotates through one of its tooth-angles. The feed-rack E pivoted stop-rack S and the teeth of the stops S have a common pitch, and the teeth are symtwo such tooth-pitches. Therefore the cheeks of the stops coincide with the axes of teeth of the stop rack.

Normally the skip mechanism S is re 2) by S5 S .as are set enter the path of a finger, 5, fixed on the carriage S and constitutes stops The skip-key S and its lever S are connected with theroller S S and having rocker arms 8 and S, the latter connected by a link S with the active end of said lever, tlie roller being mounted on theformer. This mechanism greatly re- 1netri'cal on the stops, whose thickness equals 80 'nismSinwardly so that such of it's stops 9 by a rock sha-ftS mounted in the carriage duces the strain and work of operation and 1% increases the output. Record cardscontain many unperforated lines, often irregularly spaced. Normally it is inoperative; but (thestops S being properly set) it canbe swung into action by depressing the skipkey and enables the operator to instantly skip blank card-lines and stop the carriage at those which are to bexperforated. ratchet wheel and permits the spring feed Punch ac ti0m.-The several punch action series correspond with one another and with the record-key series of the key mechanism. Eachpunch action series comprises a series of the aforesaid punches 50; a series of and having their lower ends severally resting on the transver -b h g switchb'earel. 0;, A20

such switch bearer being supported andsuit-f ably spaced by separators on lateral rods 2* fixed in the basket 2.

The switch blocks 50 are substantially ini verted truncated isosceles triangles stamped of thin plate, pivoted adjacent to one of their basal angles, with the pivots directly in the prolongations of the path followed by the corresponding punch-ex- 3" when the die-box 21 tension rods 50 is lifted. and to one side of the longitudinal, but in the transverse, planes of motion of the key-pins S Said switch blocks normally hang with the free sides of their bases in paths followed by key pins S when the carriage locates them coactingly and they are depressed; and with the points of said blocks depending below the bearers and to one side of the paths of the punch-extem sion rods 50K A key pin S operates a switch block 50 by striking and depressing the free side of its base, and swinging its point between its pivot and the upper end of the corresponding punch-extension rod, into its path. If then, the die-box 21, containing a cardto be perforated, be lifted, the punch-actions P, whose switch-blocks have not been set by key-pins, are supported by the card and, be-. cause they do not find switch-blocks in the paths of their extension rods, move freely with the die-box and do not punch the card; but those punch actions Whose switch-blocks have been set are stopped thereby and punc the card. 4

In card-accounting there are many facts common to all the cards of a series, and machines of this general character embody means to manually fix the actions corresponding with such facts before, and to so retain them, during the perforation of a card-series. I provide apparatus for such purposes which is much'simpler, cheaper and more convenient than any heretofore used, and which consists of a spring 50*, preferably a hook-shaped plate, detachably united to the switch block, connected with a suitable abutment and adapted to retain the switch -block in operative position (Figs. 3, 4c, 5 and 6). The preferred mode of attaching the spring 50 to the switch block is to slot the latter and make the spring of rectangular section adapted to fit closely in the slot; the maximum length and durability of spring being obtained by locating the slot in the base of the switch block, and contracting the loop of the hook so that it will not foul the key-pin.

In the operation of the machine a card is fed and located between the die and guideplates 2e and 23, under the punches 50; the operator permanently sets those switch blocks 50 which correspond with facts common to all the records of the series by putting springs 5O on them; properly sets stops S of the skip mechanism S for skipping recurring blank lines; pushes the carriage back to its initial limit; strikes the proper key of the key action S to set the switch block corresponding with the first fact to be recorded, which causes the release of the carriage and its automatic advance to coact with the succeeding punch-action, P; and continues to strike such keys, setswitch blocks in the successive punch-actions and skip blank spaces and causes the advance of the carriage. until switch blocks have been set corresponding ;with all the facts to be recorded; whereuponhe presses the clutch knob, 39,- and throws in the clutch, which causes the transmission to operate and lift the punch box 21. Those punch-actionsP .whose switch blocks 50 /have not been set,

move freely and do not perforate the card;

but those whose switch blocks have been set are thereby arrested and do perforate the card as it is. lifted in the die-box 21.

. After the card hasubeen perforated, a retractor, F, advances transversely, adjacent to the switch-bearers509, returns all the switchblocks 50 to. their normal inoperative position and itself returns to normal position; and While it isso returning, those switch blocks to which springs, 50 have been affixed are thereby returned to operative-position.

The retractor F comprises a pair of longitudinal rock shafts F mounted in bearings in the basket 2 and each having near its ends a pair of equal rocker arms F con- .slidably mounted on the basket 2, pinned to saidarm and hason its other end an adjusting .head 77 and a roller 78 revolubly mounted thereon .and engaging a suitable cam,. on the main shaft 15, to actuate and time theretractor F. The functional length of the rod 77 is made adjustable by threading its end and making a corresponding female thread in the head,77 so that by screw ing-theheadmore orless on the rod its functional length can be adjusted to prope yi locate the arc ofmotion ofthe retractorrods F relatively .to the operatlve-and non-operative positions of .the switch blocks 50 The ,retractorrods F are utilized as abutments for the switch-springs 50, which,

,When appliedfto switch blocks, tend to close them against said rods (Fig.- 4). Card-perforating machines, .as heretofore built, com- ,prisefa great number of punch actions, arranged, in. series, to be sure, but each having its individual striking key, and therefore not facile inoperation; and-my invention consists in substituting, for such an unmechanical assemblage .of independent units, an organization comprlslng a pluralltyof succesi riespfpllnGhaCtlOnS and avkey mechanism comprising'the minimum number of "striking keys and key actions, and therefore of the utmost simplicity in construction and facility in operation and adapted to select,

co-act with and cause the operation of punches in successivepunch action series.

I claim as new. and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. In a perforating machine, a frame, a

- thereon, a key-action mechanism movable on said frame and comprising a key-action series corresponding with one of and adapted .to co-act with said successive punch-actlon series and feed mechanism, operably connected with said key-action mechanism and adapted, when a key is struck, to initiate feed motion of said mechanism and arrest it in co-acting position relatively to the succeeding punch-action series.

3. In a perforating machine, a frame, a plurality of punch-action series mounted thereon, a key-actionmechanism movable on said frame and comprising a key-action series corresponding with and adapted to coact with said successive punch-action series and a skip key-action adapted to initiate the advance of said key-mechanism and a springactuated feed mechanism adapted to advance said key mechanism.

4. In a perforating machine, a frame, a plurality of punch-action series mounted thereon, akey-action mechanism movable on said frame and comprising a key-action series corresponding With'and adapted to ooact with said successive. punch-action series and a skip key action adapted to initiate the advance of said key-mechanism, a spring- .actuated feed mechanism adapted to advance said key mechanism, and an escapement mechanism adapted to control the feed of said carriage.

5. In a perforating machine, a frame, a

plurality of punch-action series mounted thereon, a key-action mechanism movable on said frame and comprising a key-action series corresponding with and adapted to coact with said successive punch-action series and a skip key-action adapted to initiate the advance of said key-mechanism, a springactuated feed mechanism adapted to advance said key mechanism, and an escapement mechanism adapted to initiate the advance of said key-mechanism and to stop it in coacting position with successive punch-action series.

6. In a perforating machine, a frame, a plurality of punch-action series mounted thereon, a key-action mechanism movable on said frame and comprising a key-action series corresponding with and adapted to coact with said successive punch-action series and a skip key-action adapted to initiate the advance of said key-mechanism, a spring-actuated feed mechanism adapted to advance said key, and an escapementmechanism operably connected with said key-action and adapted when one of said actions is operated to initiate the advance of said carriage and to stop it in co-acting position with the succeeding punch-action series and a feed mechanism connected with and adapted to advance said carriage.

7. In a perforating machine, a frame; a

plurality of punch-action series mounted thereon; a key mechanism movable on said frame and comprising a key-action series corresponding with one of and adapted to co-act with said punch-action series success1vely, and a skip key-action, an escapement mechanism operably connected with said key-action and adapted when a key of said actions is struck to initiate the advance of said carriage and stop it in co-acting position with the succeeding punch-action series,

and when said skip key-action is held down i to permit the carriage to be advanced; and

a feed mechanism connected with and adapted to advance said carriage.

8. In a perforating machine, a punch-ac tion comprising a punch and an extension thereof both substantially axially movable and a settable member which normally lies out of the path followed by said punch and its extension to permit a free motion thereof and which is adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion.

9. In a perforating machine, a punch-action comprising a punch and an extension thereof both substantially axially 'movable, a settahle member which normally lies out ofthe path followed by said punch and its extension to permit free motion thereof and which is adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion, and a spring manually adjustable on said settable member and adapted to hold it in its operative position.

10. In a perforating machine, a punch-action comprising a punch and an extension thereof both substantially axially movable, a settable member which normally lies out of the path followed by said punch and its extension to permit free motion thereof and which is adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion; a support for said settable member; and a friction engagement between it and its support adapted to hold it in non operative and in its operative position.

11. In a perforating machine, a series of punch-actions each comprising a punch and and a retractor normally disengaged from 4 and adapted to be advanced to return all said settable members to their inoperative positions and "to be itself returned to its normal position.

12. In a perforating machine, a series of punch-actions each comprising a punch and :an extension thereof both substantially axially movable and a settable member which normally lies out of the path followed by said punch and its extension to permit free motion thereof and which is adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion; and a retractor comprising a member adapted to move substantially parallel with,-

and normally disengaged from and adapted to be advanced to engage said settable members and return them to their inoperative position and to be itself returned to its normal position.

13. In a perforating machine, a series of punch-actions each comprising a. punch and an extension thereof both substantially axially movable and a settable member which normally lies out of the path followed by said punch and its extension to permit free motion thereof and which is adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion; and a retractor comprising parallel motion members and retractor rods therein and normally disengaged from said settable members, said retractor adapted to be advanced and engage said-settable members with said rods and'return them to-their normal position and be itself returned to its normal position.

14. In a perforating machine, a plurality of series of punch-actions, each punch-action comprising a punch and an extension thereof both substantially axially movable and a settable member which normally lies out of the path followed by said punch and its extension to permit free motion thereof and which is adapted to beset in said path to limit said motion; and a retractor comprising parallel moving members normally disengaged from said settable members and adapted to be advanced and return said settable members to their inoperative position and to be itself returned to its normal position.

15. In a perforating machine, a frame; a reciprocating member mounted .thereon; means to reciprocate said member; a dieplate and a guide-plate on said member separated to admit cards between them and perforated with series of registering holes;

a punch supporting plate on said frame and likewise perforated; a guide-plate on said frame correspondingly but divergently perforated; members transverse on said frame; and series of key-actions each comprising a punch located in registering holes in said supporting plate on the frame and the guideplate on said movable member, a punch extension extending said punch through a hole in said guide-plate on said frame, and a settable member pivoted on one of said transverse frame members, said settable member normally lying out of the path followed by said punch and'its extension to permit free motion thereof and adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion.

16. In a perforating machine, a frame; a reciprocating member mounted thereon; means to reciprocate said members; a dieplate and a guide-plate on said member separated to admit cards between them and perforated with series of registering holes; a punch-supporting plate on said frame and likewise perforated; a guide-plate on said frame correspondingly but divergently perforated; members transverse on said frame; series of key-actions each comprising a punch located in registering holes in said supporting plate on the frame and the guide-plate on said movable member, a punch extension extending said punch through a hole in said guide-plate on said frame, and a settable member pivoted on one of said transverse frame members, said settable member normally lying out of the path followed by said punch and its extension to permit free motion thereof and adapted to be set in said path to limit said motion; and a parallel motion retractor mounted on said frame, normally disengaged from said settable ,members and adapted to be advanced and return settable members to their inoperative position and to be itself returned to its normal position.

17. In a perforating machine, a key-action adapted to co-act with and set settable members in successive punch-actions and comprising a striking key, a pin, and a lever operably connecting said key and pin, and means for supporting the aforesaid members in their operative position.

18. In a perforating machine, a frame; runways on said frame; a key-action carriage mounted on said runways; a spring feed mechanism adapted to advance said carriage; a series of key-actions mounted on said carriage each comprising a striking key, a pin adapted to co-act with and set settable members of punch-actions, and a lever connecting said striking key and pin; a rock shaft mounted in said carriage and operably connected with said keys action; escapement pawls connected with said rock shaft; a ratchet wheel and a pinion connected thereto revolubly mounted on said carriage; and a rack fixed on said frame and in engagement with said pinion. r 19. In a perforating machine, a frame,

runways on said frame; a key-action carriage mounted on said runways; a spring feed mechanism adapted to advance said carriage; a series of record key-actions mounted on said carriage each comprising a striking key, a pin adapted to co-act with and set settable members of punch-actions, and a lever connecting said striking key and pin; a skip key-action on said carriage comprising a striking key and a lever; a rock shaft mounted insaid carriage and operably connected with said record key actions; escapement pawls connected with said rock shaft; a ratchet Wheel and a pinion connected thereto revolubly mounted on said carriage, and a rack on said frame in engagement with said pinion.

20. In a perforating machine, a frame, runways on said frame,v a key-action carriage mounted on said runways, a spring feed mechanism adapted to advance said carriage, a series of record key-actions mounted on said carriage each comprising a striking key, a pin adapted to co-act with and set settable members of punch-actions and'a lever connecting said striking key and pin, a 'skip key-action on said carriage comprising a striking key and a lever, a rock shaft mounted in said carriage and operably connected with said record key-action, a

final release pawl on said "rock shaft and a pivotally inountedinitial release pawl, a member on said final release. pawl adapted to engage said: initial release pawl, amernber on said initial release pawl adapted to engage said skip key-action, a ratchet wheel and a pinion connected thereto revolubly' mounted on said carriage, and a rack on said frame in engagement with said pinion.

21. In a perforating machine, a frame, a plurality of punch-action series mounted thereon, a settable member in each punchaction, a key mechanism slidably mounted on said frame and comprising a carriage and a series of key-actions mginted in said carriage and adapted to co-act severally with settable members in said punch-action series, means for automatlcally advancing.

said carriage and adjustable stops adapted to limit its traverse.

22. In a key-action carriage for perforating machines, cheek-members adapted for slidably mounting said carriage and for the mounting of revoluble members, a pair of transverse plate members united to said cheek-members, registering holes in said plate members, key-action pins therein, keyaction levers pivotedion said upper plate and severally connecting the pin and stem of key-actions, a rock shaft revolubly mounted in said cheek members and an escapement mechanism I operably connected with said 6:,

rockshaft.

23. In a key-action carriage for perforating' machines, cheek members, transverse plate members uniting said cheek members, a series of key-actions each comprising a striking key, a pin and a lever connecting said key and pin, a rock shaft; bearings therefor in said cheek members, a shaft head in one of said bearings and angularly fixed to said shaft, a final-release pawl fixed on saidshaft head, a pivotally mounted initial-release pawl, a revolubly mounted ratchet wheel and a pinion connected therewith and adapted to engage a fixed rack;

adapted to engage and be disengaged from 7 said ratchet wheel and means for connecting and disconnecting said final-release pawl and initial-release pawls.

, 25. In a perforating niachine, a frame; a plurality of punch-action series and a fixed rack on said frame; a key-action mechanism slidably mounted on said carriage and comprising a record key-action series corre-' spending with a punch-action series and adapted to co-act with and set settable members of successive punch-action series, a skip key-action a feed adapted to advance said carriage, an escapement mechanism operably connected with said key-actions and adapted to initiate and stop the traverse of said carriage when one of said keys is struck-v and when said skip key is held down to permit the advance of said carriage; askipstop mechanism mounted on said frame and adjustable stops thereon, said skip-stops mechanism normally in inoperative position, operably connected with said skip-key action and adapted to be advanced into operative position when. said skipkey action is operated.

26. In a perforating machine, a frame; a plurality of punch-action series and a fixed rack on said frame; a key-action mechanism slidably mounted on said carriage and comprising a record key-action series corresponding with a punch-action series and adapted to co-act with and set settable members of successive punch-action series, and a skip-key action, a feed adapted to advance said carriage, an escapement mechanism opcarriage, stops adjustable on said rocking member, said rocking member and stops be-- ing normally in nonoperative position and an operable connection between said rocking member and said skip-key action adapted to cause said rocking member and adjusted stops therein to advance into engaging position relatively to said carriage when said skip-l ey is operated.

27. In a perforting machine, a frame; a plurality of punch-action series and a fixed rack on said frame; a key action mechanism slidably mounted on said carriage and comprising a record key-action series corresponding with a punch action series and adapted to co-act with and set settable members of successive punch-action series, a skip-key action, a feed adapted to advance said carriage, an escapement mechanism operably connected with said key-actions and adapted to initiate and stop the traverse of said carriage when one of said keys is struck and when said skip-key is held down to permit the advance of said carriage; and a skip-stop mechanism compris ing a rocking member pivoted in said frame and extending parallel with the traverse of said carriage and thereon a rocker arm operably connected with said skip-key action, rack corresponding with the aforesaid fixed rack, a stop-support, and adjustable stops adapted to engage said rack and to be linearly adjusted and angularly advanced and retracted; said skip-stop mechanism being normally in non-operative position and adapted to be advanced and move its stops into operable position relatively to said carriage, when said skip-key action is operated.

28. In a perforating machine, a frame,

main shaft mounted thereon and connected with a source of power, a cam on said shaft, a plurality of punch-actions series each punch-action comprising a punch, a punch rod and a settablc member normally inplurality of punch-action series mounted on said frame, each such series comprising a number of punch-actions arranged in a line, and a key-action mechanism slidable on said frame and comprising a series of key-ac tions corresponding with a punch-action series and adapted to cause the operation of punch-actions in successive series.

30. In a perforating machine, a frame, a plurality of punch-action. series mounted on said frame, each such series comprising a number of punch-actions arranged in a line, and a key-action mechanism slidable on said frame and comprising a series; of key-actionscorresponding with a punch-action series, arranged in a plurality of lines and adapted to cause the operative punch-actions in successive series.

31; In a perforating machine, a frame, a reciprocating member comprising a dieplate and a guide-plate separated to admit cards between them and perforated with series of registering holes, a punch-supporting plate fixed to said frame and similarly perforated, series of punches located in such holes in said guide-plate on the reciprocating member and said supporting-plate on the frame, parallel-sided heads on said punches and bars fixed to said frame and extendin parallel with and adjacent to said heads of punches in said several series.

32. In a perforating machine, a frame, a reciprocating member comprising a dieplate and a guide-plate separated to admit cardsbetween them and perforated with series of registering holes, a punch-supporting plate fixed to said frame and similarly perforated, series of punches located in such holes in said guide-plate on the reciprocating member and said supporting-plate on the frame, parallel-sided heads on said punches and a grill fixed to said frame and comprising bars extending parallel with and adjacent to said heads of punches in said several series.

33. In a perforating machine, a frame, a reciprocating member comprising a dieplate and a guide-plate separated to admit cards between them and perforated with series of registering holes, a punch-supporting plate fixed to said frame and similarly perforated, series of punches located in such holes in said guide-plate on the reciprocating members and said supportingplate on the frame, parallel sides on said punches and bars fixed on said guide-plate of said reciprocating members and extend. ing adjacent and parallel to said parallel punch-sides in said several series.

34. In a perforating machine, a frame, a reciprocating member comprising a dieplate and a guide-plate separated to admit cards between them and perforated with series of registering holes, a pmich-support-.

ing plate fixed to said frame and similarly ing bars extending adjacent and parallel to perforated, series of punches located in said parallel punch-sides in said several I such holes in said guide-plate on the recipseries.

rocating members and said supporting- I JAMES POWERS. 5 plate on the frame, parallel sides on said Witnesses:

punches and a grill fixed on said guide-plate BENJAMIN B. AVERY,

of said reciprocating member and compris- JOHN MORRIS. 

